Preach The Word

How do you think of God? How often do you think of God? Some people look at God as a “jovial grandfather figure” who bounces His grandchildren on His knee and excuses their sin and failures of Him. Others think of God as a “Santa Claus” figure who is there merely to grant all of our requests and give us what we want. (To them prayer is like a Christmas wish list.) Still others think of God as “the man upstairs” who may or may not be interested in us and in what goes on in our lives. And then there are those who think of God as a PBS program once presented Him, an angry, vengeful figure who takes pleasure in creating problems and difficulties for those on earth. HE IS NONE OF THESE! I hope this message will cause us to think about the holiness of God and the holiness He expects from His children. This is a subject you don’t hear preached about anymore. It is something that many who profess Christ as Savior do not live today. I believe one reason there is so little respect for the Lord’s churches today is the lack of holiness in the lives of their members. God knows that mankind will become like the person or thing he worships, and He wants us to be like Him. Who or what is the standard for holiness in our world today? It is certainly not government. To some it is “the way we’ve always done it.” To others it is whatever “is not as bad or worse than what someone else is doing.” To still others (many) the standard is “what I want to do,” or “what makes me feel good.” However, God is to be THE standard for true holiness. Let me share a few verses of Scripture with you. In I Peter 1:16 the Apostle said, “ . . . it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” Where is that found? Leviticus 11:44-45. The book of Leviticus is all about the worship of God. In it the Lord is instructing the Israelites in how to live before Him. In teaching His people about purity, God reminds them that they are to be different and “set apart” from the rest of the world. He says: “For I am the Lord your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. (45) For I am the Lord that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy . . . ” SANCTIFY YOURSELVES = be set apart, (Be set apart for sacred use). BE YE HOLY = to be clean, or pure before God. Then, He gives the reason, because the One you worship and serve is holy, “ . . . for I am holy.” Also, in Psalm 99 (and this could well be what Peter was referring to) the psalmist, 3 times in this short psalm, speaks of God’s holiness. Vv. 1-3: “The Lord reigneth; let the people tremble: he sitteth between the cherubims; let the earth be moved. (2) The Lord is great in Zion; and he is high above all the people. (3) Let them praise thy great and terrible name; for it is holy.” Vs. 5: “Exalt ye the Lord our God, and worship at his footstool; for he is holy.” Vs. 9: “Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at his holy hill; for the Lord our God is holy.” I want to share 3 great thoughts this psalm presents about the holiness of God.

I. THE PERCEPTION OF GOD’S HOLINESS - PSALM 99:1.

II. THE PRAISE OF GOD’S HOLINESS - PSALM 99:3.

III. THE PREEMINENCE OF GOD’S HOLINESS - PSALM 99:6-9.

I am convinced that many, if not most, of God’s people and the Lord’s churches today give only a passing acknowledgement to the Holy Spirit’s presence in their lives. It is one thing to have an intellectual knowledge of the Spirit and His indwelling. But it is something else altogether to have an experiential knowledge of His presence, power, and plan for our lives. If we are to serve God properly, we will do it by Holy Spirit power. We will not do it in the strength of the flesh. What did God say to Zerubbabel in Zechariah 4:6? “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.” True, biblical preaching is done by the Spirit’s power. Paul preached by Holy Spirit power. I Corinthians 2:1-5: “And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. (2) For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. (3) And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. (4) And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: (5) That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.” We witness by His power -- Acts 2:4: “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” Paul tells this church at Ephesus that they need the power of God’s Spirit working in them. He had already told them that the Spirit indwelt the church -- Ephesians 2:22. He had already reminded them that He indwelt them individually -- Ephesians 4:4-6: “(4) There is one . . . one Spirit . . . (5) One Lord . . . (6) One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” But remember, this is the church that eventually left their “first love,” their honeymoon love (and enthusiasm) for Christ -- Revelation 2:4. Many believers and churches today are in danger of leaving their “first love” for the Lord, and some have already left. They need to be filled with knowledge about the Holy Spirit. They need to be under His control day in and day out. I believe most Baptists are a little afraid of the Holy Spirit. “He might make us talk funny and do strange things.” (He will not do that.) I believe there has been a tendency in the past to avoid acknowledging both His presence and His ministry. However, we need Him. We need His presence. And we need His power desperately today. We should not fear the Spirit of God, but we should welcome Him and create an atmosphere in our lives and in this church where He feels “at home” and can work unhindered in our lives. So in these verses Paul tells the members of this church what the Spirit filled life is all about and what it does. When the Spirit is in control there will be some evidence of it in our lives. We will still speak English, but we will be more like Jesus than we have ever been. That is what the Spirit wants to do in our lives. He wants to duplicate the life of Christ in every child of God. In this message I want to deal with “The Evidences Of A Spirit Filled Life.” If we are Spirit controlled, there will be evidence in:

I. OUR WALK (WITH THE SPIRIT) -- VS. 18.

II. OUR WORSHIP (OF THE SAVIOR) -- VV. 19-20.

III. OUR WITNESS AMONG THE SAVED -- VV. 19, 21.

Sadly, today many in America view Christianity as an empty belief that usually leaves one’s life unchanged. That is because by their lives some promote the idea that one can be saved and still live with the same attitudes and priorities that he/she had before. Example: Someone comes forward at the end of a service and says they want to “get saved.” They “pray” some kind of prayer merely repeating words they are told to say. The preacher acts happy and tells them now they are “saved.” Weeks later they return to church to be baptized. After that, they are moderately faithful in church attendance for a while but eventually quit attending. These are not doing anything about trying to become more like Jesus. They live like the world. They “pray” only in an emergency. And yet (and this is key) if you ask them if they are a Christian, they will emphatically say, “Yes.” (And they genuinely believe that.) This is why I do not ask people if they are a “Christian.” I ask, “Do you know Jesus Christ as Savior?” This is one of the reasons we have so many people in America claiming to be Christians while behaving in ways that are decidedly non-Christian. They are sullying the name of Christ in our culture. Today we have generations in this nation that are spiritually starved. That is one reason many young people are turning away from “church.” Statistics are more important than souls. “Numbers” have become more important than nourishment. Many of these young adults go looking for something that their grandparents, or maybe their parents had, but they are not finding it. They are looking for a Christianity that is real but only finding a cheap imitation. That explains why many young people are turning to pagan religions and even to the occult. (They view this American version of “Christianity” as empty and hypocritical.) We preach about the love of God and the love of Christ but don’t show it to others. We use terms like “saints,” “holy,” and “set apart” but live like the world around us -- holding the same attitudes, outlook, and desires. Living holy lives means getting rid of the sin in our lives, becoming more like Christ. It means living pure lives. It means getting the junk out of our hearts so that we can live like Jesus . But too many American “Christians” see holiness as irrelevant to their lives instead of realizing it is part of what God wants for us. In vs. 1 of our text we are told to be “followers of God as dear children.” FOLLOWER = an imitator (from “mimetes,” literally “mimic). “as dear children” = dearly loved children. Did you ever notice how a young child will imitate his/her parents Declan wants to wear a cap like his daddy does (or wear Daddy’s cap). When I think of children not learning from their parents I first think of God’s children. In the verses that follow (vv. 2-16) we are told how to “mimic” our Heavenly Father 3 times with the use of the word “walk.” WALK = (peripateo) to tread about; to walk around. It refers to our daily living. This explains part of the problem today. Many professed believers think holiness is for Sunday only and that they can live as they want the rest of the week. But for the child of God holiness is for every day, all day long. If we are to “mimic” our Heavenly Father we must: 1) “Walk in love.” 2) “Walk as children of light.” 3) “Walk circumspectly.”

I. WALK IN LOVE - VS. 2.

II. WALK IN LIGHT - VS. 8.

III. WALK LOOKING AROUND - VV. 15-16.

As the Apostle Paul writes to the church in Rome he speaks to them of: 1) The significance of the Gospel - vv. 1-2; 2) The Subject of the Gospel - vv. 3-4; 3) The salvation of the Gospel - vv. 5-7. Then, in vv. 13-16 he spoke to them of the great debt he felt toward all people to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to them. We would all agree that debts must be settled, right? I want to share with you a debt that we all have that we may overlook. In 1877 Charles Carroll Luther, a Baptist preacher, wrote the words to what is a well known hymn today. He wrote “Must I Go And Empty Handed.” (I am afraid that is how many who profess Christ are going to meet Him one day.) I don’t know if he had II Corinthians 5:10 in mind when he wrote that song, but it seems to me he probably did. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” Presently on Wednesday evenings our study is on evangelism. “Evangelism” is just another way of saying, “telling people about Jesus.” It is hard today to get God’s people excited about witnessing, but I believe this is something every true, authentic church of the Lord Jesus Christ should not only study, but something in which we should be actively involved. One way to know that your relationship with Jesus is real is that you have a desire to share your faith with others. We are not told to “keep the faith” but to share it. I believe if you are a child of God you have in your heart a desire to see others come to know Christ as Savior and to be used of God to lead someone to Christ. (We may never act on it, but it will be there.) If we are not endeavoring to share our faith, we are not, cannot be right with God. Proverbs 11:30: “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth (fetches; takes in) souls is wise.” Why is winning souls wise? Because of the value of a soul. Mark 8:36-37 tells us that not just the spirit of man, but the entire make-up of his life is valuable to God. “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? (37) Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? A soul is valuable because it is desirable -- both God and Satan want it. You can tell the value of something by the price someone is willing to pay for it. Man’s soul is so valuable, God sent His only begotten Son to pay the ransom for mankind’s sin. A soul is valuable because it is durable -- it will last for all eternity. A soul is valuable because of its possibility. As followers of Christ we will one day be conformed into His likeness. I John 3:2: “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” Winning souls is wise because of the command of the Savior. We are commanded to make disciples. It is not a suggestion - Matthew 28:18-20. Note: Jesus did not say, “Hold some big event to get the lost to church and then spring the Gospel on them.” He said, “Go,” or literally, “As you go, or in your going from day to day.” The disciple making process involves witnessing (but it seems that today it is something most of the saved are afraid or embarrassed to do). You cannot make a disciple out of a lost person. Judas Iscariot companied with the Lord for 3 1/2 years, but Jesus called him a demon. We are instructed to witness to all people without being a “respecter of persons.” Our obedience to our Lord’s command . . . 1) Reveals our love for Him -- John 14:15: “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” 2) Proves our salvation -- I John 2:3-4: “And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. (4) He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” 3) Brings us to maturity and assures us of our salvation -- Vs. 5: “But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.” The debt that we often overlook is the debt of sharing the Gospel of Christ with others. It is a debt that we must satisfy individually. No one else can pay it for us. But I will guarantee you, the greatest joy there is on this earth is to bring someone to know Christ as Savior! But if we are to do that we must see . . .

I. THE DEPTH (DEGREE) OF OUR DEBT -- VS. 14.

II. THE DUTY OF OUR DEBT -- VS. 15.

III. THE DEMAND OF OUR DEBT -- VS. 16.

Is anyone full of anxiety this morning? Is anyone in despair? God has a message for you. This is one of the “Maschil” psalms, possibly (probably) written by David. The term “Maschil” indicates it was written during a time of great tribulation in the psalmist’s life. It may have been written during the time of Absalom’s rebellion against David. During this time of tribulation, the psalmist was in the depths of spiritual despair (as many are today). He trusted God (vv. 1-2), but yet it seemed he was surrounded by unrighteousness which, he felt, threatened to overwhelm him. “Why go I mourning . . . ?” At times he even felt as though God had abandoned him (vs. 2: “Why dost thou cast me off?”) As we stand for the truth today it might be easy for us to feel the same way. The ungodly seem to prosper. The saved who are not dedicated to God seem to do well. It also seems that, as the psalmist said, we are living in an ungodly (and unmerciful) nation. Meanwhile, those who love the truth and try to serve God faithfully seem to suffer. It would be easy to become depressed, filled with despair, and to want to quit in such a time, so where do we turn for strength? The psalmist knew, and we shall see. In the midst of an ungodly (unmerciful) nation, the psalmist pleads for God’s care and direction over him as he faces this time of despair.

I. THE PLEA OF THE BELIEVER -- VV. 1-3.

II. THE PROMISES OF THE BELIEVER -- VS. 4.

III. THE PROFESSION OF THE BELIEVER -- VS. 5.

We know that the devil is the fallen angel Lucifer, Satan, that old serpent. We also know that he is the great imitator of all of God’s works. He is the “accuser of the brethren,” accusing us before God and to ourselves. He is called in our text our “adversary” (opponent). He pretends to be of God, and his “ministers” do the same - II Corinthians 11:14-15: “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. (15) Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.” He comes “with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness” (II Thessalonians 2:9-10). He is “ . . . the great dragon . . . that old serpent . . . the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world . . . ” He blinds the eyes of men to the Gospel, causing them to reject Christ and die lost so that they spend an eternity separated from God in hell -- II Corinthians 4:3-4: “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: (4) In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” I hope you hate the devil, too. We know that God speaks to His children - not in an audible voice. It’s louder than that. I Kings 19:12 tells us that He spoke to Elijah in a “still small voice.” And God speaks to us today - through His Word and through the conviction and leadership of His Holy Spirit. John 16:8 says He will “reprove” (convince; prove to be wrong) the world “of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment . . . ” But Satan has learned to whisper, also. He may speak to the world with loud noise and a spectacular show. Ezekiel 28:13: “ . . . the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.” But he will often whisper to a child of God. (If he has whispered to you, you know what I am talking about.) Do you know what that is a picture of? Galatians 5:17: “For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.” It is the battle that goes on when Satan whispers into our ears to do what he or the flesh want us to do. I have been in the midst of this battle this week as I tried to prepare this message. I have had multiple interruptions, things to throw my thinking off track, difficulties, etc., and I believe it is because our enemy does not like to be exposed. God’s Word tells us very clearly in I John 2:16 of the ways we will be tempted to sin against our Heavenly Father. “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” This is how he tempted Eve in Genesis 3:6: “And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.” Hebrews 4:15 tells us that Satan tempted our High Priest, Jesus in these 3 areas: “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” Matthew 4:1-11 gives us that account. James 1:13-16: “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: (14) But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. (15) Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. (16) Do not err, my beloved brethren.” We are going to look at some individuals in God’s Word who were tempted by Satan in these areas and what that involved.

I. THE LUST OF THE EYES -- II SAMUEL 11 - DAVID AND BATHSHEBA.

II. THE LUST OF THE FLESH - NUMBERS 11 - THE ISRAELITES IN THE WILDERNESS.

III. THE LOVE OF PRIDE.

If there was ever a time that God’s people needed to get on fire for Him, it is today! If there was ever a time that this church needed to get on fire for God, it is today! God has blessed us in may ways. However, it is easy to grow content and complacent even in the midst of His blessings. But if we will get on fire for God, we will face the fire for God. We will face pressure from the world, the flesh, and the devil to conform to the world. Because we are at odds with this world’s system and how the world lives -- I John 2:16: “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” We are at odds with Satan (I Peter 5:8), and even our own flesh (Galatians 5:17). This conflict causes a temptation to bow to the influence way of the world. That is what many so-called “Christians” are doing. We see churches, homes, and families that have sold out and are going in the way of the world. But God’s Word instructs us not to conform -- Romans 12:2: “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind . . . ” That is why a message like this is so needed today. We all are familiar with the account of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These 3 men teach us that it is possible to be on fire for God when most of those around us are headed for the fires of hell. Where there is genuine faith in Jesus, there is fire! Our enemy (Satan) will try to extinguish the flame, but we can live for God. We can be on fire for God today, and these verses tell us how.

I. BE DIFFERENT -- VV. 1-7.

II. BE DETERMINED -- VV. 8-18.

III. THEY WERE DELIVERED -- VV. 19-30.

There are tragic examples of “wealthy” people who subsist on “garbage.” They are believers who are controlled by lust, hate, envy, pride, impatience, or bitterness. These are actually choosing to live off the refuse of the world. In vv. 17-19 we were told in last week’s message how the “other gentiles” live - “in the vanity of their mind . . . ” with an understanding that is darkened, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, having blindness of their heart, and . . . "being past feeling." Thus they give themselves over to “lasciviousness . . . uncleanness . . . greediness.” But now look again at vv. 20-21: “But ye have not so learned Christ . . . ” "But ye . . . " is emphatic. Paul is saying to them, "You are not like the other gentiles." LEARN(ED) = to learn intellectually; to be informed; to understand. The word is a form of the word for “disciple.” (But you have not so been discipled.) “Learned Christ” means a living, abiding knowledge of Jesus that will keep us from the kind of sinful conduct Paul speaks of in the verses to come. Learning Christ is not just learning “the facts” about Him. That isn’t enough. It means we come to know Him; we come to trust Him; we come to love Him. Remember John 17:3: “And this is life eternal (as to its purpose) that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent” (and be influenced by that knowledge). “21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him . . . ” The “if” of this verse is the “if” of a fulfilled condition. In effect he is saying, “But you have heard Him, and you have been taught by Him.” How did they hear Jesus? They were living in Ephesus years after Jesus had been crucified, buried, risen, and ascended! They heard him through the preaching of the Word by the Apostle and others. Ephesians 2:20: “And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone . . . ” Where did the apostles get their doctrine? From Jesus! Have you heard the Lord Jesus? Where do we hear Jesus today? In God’s Word. Matthew chapters 5-7 we can “hear” one whole sermon preached by Jesus (The Sermon on the Mount). We read the Gospels and hear His teaching. That is how we hear Him today. This is also how we are taught by Him. Have you been taught by Him in His Word? Matthew 11:28-30: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (29) Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. (30) For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” LEARN = the same word as in Ephesians 4:20. Matthew Henry suggests these two verses can be read, “But you, not so; (because) you have learned Christ.” To live as the “other gentiles” would be to have learned nothing! It would be to reject Christ! Look again at the contrast: The “other gentiles” (vs. 17) . . . But ye (vs. 20) . . . ” The lifestyle of the “other gentiles” (the lost world) is not to be the lifestyle of a child of God (but it is being held up before us and our youth as the pattern to follow). The worldly lifestyle is not what God’s Word teaches us about Jesus. I Peter 2:21-24: “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: (22) Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: (23) Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: (24) Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree . . . ” As children of God we are and are to be . . . 1) Holy -- I Peter 2:5: “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy (separated to God) priesthood . . . ” (vs. 9) “an holy nation . . . ” 2) Royalty -- I Peter 2:9: “But ye are . . . a royal (kingly) priesthood . . . ” I Peter 2:9: “But ye are a chosen generation . . . a peculiar (purchased, preserved) people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light . . . ” 4:1 says, “ . . . walk worthy of the vocation (calling) wherewith ye are called . . . ” Vs. 17 is saying don’t walk as those who are not saved walk. Don’t say we’re saved so we can think, live, and be like the world. “You have not so learned Christ.” This message is going to deal with some things - if we are truly to be Christlike - things we must put off, and things we must put on. It is the contrast between true believers and the “other gentiles.” It is a test -- 3 things that will reveal who we are wearing, the old man or the new.

I. TURN FROM THE OLD WAY - VS. 22.

II. TRANSFORM YOUR MIND - VS. 23.

III. TAKE ON THE NEW WAY -- VS. 23.

If you are a living, breathing child of God, I have some good news for you . . . and I have some bad news. The Good News - You are saved, sealed, and secure in Jesus, and you are going to Heaven when you die, or when the Lord returns. The Bad News - Your mind and your body are not yet saved. God’s Word teaches: a. Positional Sanctification (or Salvation). Your position is “in Christ.” You are in Him, and He is in you. It speaks of the salvation of the soul, or spirit. b. Practical (Progressive) Sanctification (Salvation). We are to be growing daily to a separation to God and from the world. That is what Paul is talking about in Romans 12:1-2: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. (2) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” The title of this message is “The Vanity Of The Gentile Mind.” Notice I did not say, “The vanity of the Gentiles” but of the Gentile mind. Would you believe that a child of God can have a “Gentile mind?” That’s why Paul said in vs. 17, “ . . . walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind . . . ” In Ephesians 4 Paul is speaking to saved people. He is talking to church members! Remember he is writing in part to saved Gentiles. OTHER GENTILES = refers to the lost world about them. A real problem today is that too many people who profess Christ as Savior (the vast majority of them?) live just like the unsaved world. They refuse to live as God’s Word instructs - separated, set apart lives. They refuse to obey His instructions. Many refuse to agree with God on the matter of sin. Paul refers to this lifestyle and thinking as “the vanity of their (the Gentiles’) mind.” VANITY = folly, emptiness (as to results). It does not produce anything worthwhile. Thayer defines it as “What is devoid of truth and appropriateness: perverseness, depravation. WALK = to tread about. It talks about one’s daily life and activity. For the child of God, the vain walk can best be described as following the fleshly nature, the old man, that part of us - mind and body -- that is not presently regenerated. In Galatians 5:17 -- Paul describes the two natures of the saved and the battle that goes on between them. Galatians 5:17: “For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.” Here is how he described it in Romans 7:19-21: “For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. (20) Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. (21) I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.” Galatians 5:19-23 reveals the difference between the old nature and the new. As the Apostle Paul continues to describe the walk of vanity of the Gentile mind, he reveals that it:

I. DARKENS THE UNDERSTANDING -- VS. 18.

II. DISTANCES THE BELIEVER (FROM GOD) -- VS. 18.

III. IT DEADENS THE FEELING - VS. 19.

IV. DEVOTED TO THE FLESH - VS. 19.

Question: Do we have unity, or do we have harmony as a church? There is a difference! (Or, do we have both?) Unity is “the quality or state of not being multiple; oneness.” It is all of us singing the same note. It is all of us having the same goal. “A church that is only united in itself, but not united to Christ, is no living church at all. You may attain to the unity of the frost-bound earth in which men and women are frozen together with the cold proprieties of aristocracy, but it is not the unity of life.” (Spurgeon) Harmony is “a congruous arrangement of the parts; a pleasing arrangement of parts; agreement, accord.” You cannot have unity without harmony, but it is possible to have a kind of “harmony” without truly having unity. Why? Because some have no energy for a fight. They “just want to get along.” Vs. 3 tells us that we are to endeavor “to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” What is the “unity of the Spirit?” It is the unity that the Holy Spirit will produce in our lives and in this church. It is not something we can invent. It is a spiritual bond of peace among believers. Vv. 4-6 present the seven-fold unity of an authentic New Testament church -- one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God. Vv. 4-6 also present the entire Trinity: “There is . . . one Spirit . . . (5) one . . . Lord . . . (6) One God and Father of all . . . ” We serve a triune God - one God who manifests Himself in 3 personalities. Illus.: H20 has 3 forms. 1) a liquid (water), 2) a gas (steam), 3) a solid (ice). I am a husband, a father, and a grandfather. And you and I were created in the image of God, and what are we? We are body, mind, and spirit. God the Father is the great intellect of the godhead - mind. God the Son (Jesus) is the physical manifestation of the Father (Emmanuel). God the Spirit (Holy Spirit) is the spiritual manifestation of God Who indwells us. And we cannot see the Father or the Spirit. And yet, Deuteronomy 6:4 says “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord.” Go back to vs.4 and note the “ones” in that verse. He says “one body” referring to only one type of (church) body. A New Testament church is made for unity - Ephesians 2:14-16: “ . . . who hath made both one . . . ” “ . . . broken down the middle wall of partition (barrier; fence) . . . ” “ . . . to make . . . of twain one new man . . . ” “ . . . that he might reconcile both unto God in one body.” Vs. 18: “For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.” There was not a Jewish church and a Gentile church but one type of church (assembly) -- a local visible body. By the way, if “all of the saved are in the church,” there can be no real unity, no true oneness because of varying beliefs on salvation, security, baptism, church membership, the Lord’s Supper. But in our unity there is individuality - vs. 8: “When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men." We are not to be carbon copies of each other, but we are to be imitators of Jesus. Ephesians 5:1: “Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children . . . ” FOLLOWER = imitator. (It comes from a word from which we get “mimic.”) (Acts 11:26). We are not to judge our faithfulness or lack thereof by others. I Corinthians 4:3-5: “But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. (4) For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord. (5) Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.” We are not to judge our abilities (gifts of grace) by those of others. God has brought the different pieces together that He might make us one, but He has given us varying gifts of grace. I Corinthians 12:4-6: “Now there are diversities of gifts (abilities), but the same Spirit. (5) And there are differences of administrations (service), but the same Lord. (6) And there are diversities of operations (effects), but it is the same God which worketh all in all.” And vs. 11 says God has given gifts to His churches as well: “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers . . . ” But the emphasis is not so much on the gifts as on the purpose of the gifts.

I. WHAT IS THE PURPOSE FOR THE GIFTS - VV. 11-12?

II. WHAT ARE THE GOALS IN GIVING THESE GIFTS - VV. 13-15?